Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church has long upheld the discipline of clerical celibacy, with priests taking vows of celibacy and refraining from marriage. However, in recent times, there have been calls for change, with some arguing for the ordination of married men as priests. This debate has gained attention due to a perceived shortage of priests, particularly in Latin America, and the existence of married Catholic priests, estimated to number around 120 in the United States. While some Catholic priests are married, they are often former Episcopalians or converts from Anglicanism, ordained through exceptions made by the Pope. The Eastern Catholic Churches have also allowed the ordination of married men for centuries, but once ordained, Catholic priests are not permitted to marry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic priests allowed to marry | No, Catholic priests are not allowed to marry after ordination. |
| Exceptions | Exceptions are made for married male Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant clergy who convert to the Catholic Church. |
| Catholic priests' opinion on marriage | Most married Catholic priests are staunch advocates of clerical celibacy. |
| Reasoning for celibacy | Celibacy is meant to keep a Roman Catholic priest's heart centered on serving Christ and his Church. |
| Shortage of priests | There is a shortage of priests in Latin America, with Brazil having more than 10,000 Catholics per priest. |
| Solution | Pope Francis indicated he was open to the idea of ordaining married men to alleviate priest shortages in remote areas. |
| Number of married priests in the U.S. | There are approximately 120 married Catholic priests in the U.S. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic priests can marry before ordination, but not after
In the Catholic Church, priests are not allowed to marry after their ordination. However, there are some Catholic priests who are married, and this is because they married before their ordination. The Eastern Catholic Churches, for example, have allowed the ordination of married men for centuries. In 2014, Pope Francis quietly lifted a 114-year-old ban on married Eastern Catholic priests serving outside their rite's home country, allowing them to serve in the U.S.
There are thought to be around 120 married Catholic priests in the U.S., many of whom are former Episcopalians. Another path to becoming a married priest in the Catholic Church is through the Pastoral Provision of Saint John Paul II, established in the early 1980s. This provision allows men, often converts from Anglicanism, to be ordained priests after receiving a dispensation from celibacy from the Pope. The Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter in the United States, established by Pope Benedict XVI, provides a similar path for Anglican communities looking to become Roman Catholic.
While some people advocate for the Catholic Church to allow priests to marry, most married Catholic priests are staunch advocates of clerical celibacy. They argue that the "spiritual fruit" of celibacy is essential to the work of the church. Additionally, celibacy is seen as a way to keep a priest's heart centred on serving Christ and the Church, rather than their family.
Some Catholic scholars have argued that it is unknown whether priests in early Christianity practised sexual abstinence. The Latin Church has historically accepted widowed men as candidates for ordination to the diaconate but not the priesthood. However, there are exceptions, especially in the case of married male Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant clergy who convert to Catholicism.
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Some Catholic priests are married
While the Catholic Church has maintained a discipline of celibacy for its priests, there are some married Catholic priests. The Eastern Catholic Churches, for example, have had many married priests since early modernity. These priests are often former Anglicans or Episcopalians who were granted a dispensation from celibacy by the Pope. In 2014, Pope Francis lifted a ban on married Eastern Catholic priests serving outside their home countries, allowing them to serve in the United States. Additionally, some Catholic priests have been allowed to retain their clerical status even after violating their vows of celibacy and secretly marrying.
The Latin Church generally does not accept married men as candidates for the priesthood, with some exceptions. In 1929, a decree was issued directing Eastern Catholic bishops to ordain only unmarried men, due to fears that married priests would create a scandal among Latin Church Catholics. However, this ban was not always enforced and was finally rescinded in 2014.
Some German Catholic bishops have expressed support for allowing married priests in the Roman Catholic Church. They argue that it could help address the shortage of priests, particularly in Latin America, where there are more than 1,800 Catholics for every priest. However, Pope Francis has ruled out optional celibacy as a solution, stating that it is not a cure for the shortage of priests.
While there are some married Catholic priests, the majority of them are advocates of clerical celibacy. They believe that celibacy allows priests to dedicate themselves fully to serving Christ and the Church, and that changing the discipline of celibacy would be a mistake.
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The Catholic Church makes exceptions for married Anglican converts
In the Catholic Church, priests are generally expected to remain celibate and unmarried. However, exceptions are sometimes made for married Anglican converts who wish to become Catholic priests. This exception is known as the Pastoral Provision, established by Pope John Paul II in the early 1980s.
The Pastoral Provision is a set of practices and norms that allow bishops to provide spiritual care for Catholics converting from the Anglican tradition. It enables the establishment of parishes for these converts and the ordination of priests from among them. The provision was created in response to requests from former Episcopalians and members of the Continuing Anglican movement in the United States, who sought reconciliation with the Catholic Church.
Under the Pastoral Provision, married Anglican priests who join the Catholic Church can be ordained as Catholic priests. However, they must first undergo a rigorous process, including background checks, approval from the head of their Ordinariate and the Vatican, and completion of an academic and pastoral formation program. As of 2012, approximately 70 married men have been ordained as priests under this provision.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church stresses that this exception is not the rule. The general expectation for Catholic priests remains celibacy and a commitment to serving the Church. Married Anglican converts who become Catholic priests are a unique case, and their ordination is approved on a case-by-case basis.
While some Catholic priests, like Father Joshua Whitfield, are married, he and many other married Catholic priests are advocates of maintaining clerical celibacy. They argue that the discipline of celibacy brings a unique "spiritual fruit" that is essential to the work of the Church. Additionally, they believe that being married does not necessarily mean a priest will prioritize their family over their parishioners, as both roles can offer insights and sympathies that enhance their ministry.
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Clerical celibacy is considered a discipline, not a doctrine
The Catholic Church considers clerical celibacy a discipline, not a doctrine. This means that it is a church regulation, not an integral part of church teaching. The Latin Church, which is one of the 24 rites of the Catholic Church, observes this discipline. However, there are some autonomous particular churches within the Catholic Church where the discipline only applies to the episcopate.
The discipline of clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church means that only unmarried men are ordained to the episcopate and the priesthood. This is based on the belief that priests, as sacramental ministers, act in persona Christi ('in the mask of Christ') and therefore their lives should conform to the chastity of Christ. The sacrifice of married life is considered to be for the "sake of the Kingdom" and to follow the example of Jesus Christ in being "married" to the church, viewed by Catholicism as the "Bride of Christ".
The practice of clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church is not a dogma but an ecclesiastical law that was adopted in the Middle Ages. One reason for this was to prevent clerics' children from inheriting church property and creating dynasties. However, this discipline does not apply to the Eastern Catholic Churches, which permit married men to be ordained to the priesthood, with the exception of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. Within the Eastern Catholic Churches, bishops are chosen solely from among celibates, while married men can be ordained as deacons and priests.
While the Catholic Church considers clerical celibacy a discipline, there have been calls to change it. Some argue that it is ignorant or forgetful of the "spiritual fruit" of celibacy, which is still true and essential to the work of the church. Others point out that the early church included married priests, and that other religions manage to have married priests without major issues. In recent years, several German Catholic bishops have supported exceptions from clerical celibacy for priests, and Pope Francis has called for consideration of the question, particularly in areas with an acute shortage of priests. However, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II both stated that the traditional practice is unlikely to change, and Pope Francis ultimately maintained prior rules on celibacy for Catholic priests.
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Some Catholic priests advocate for clerical celibacy
While the Catholic Church has a long-standing tradition of clerical celibacy, there have been recent calls for change, with some advocating for allowing priests to marry. However, it is important to note that clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church is not a doctrine but a discipline. This means that it is not a central and irreformable part of the faith, and exceptions have been made in certain cases.
Some Catholic priests, like Fr. Joshua Whitfield, are married due to exceptions made for converts from Anglicanism through the Pastoral Provision of Saint John Paul II. Despite being a married priest himself, Fr. Whitfield is a staunch advocate for maintaining clerical celibacy. He argues that the "spiritual fruit" of celibacy is essential to the work of the church and that the insights and sympathies gained from marriage do not call into question the good of clerical celibacy.
Another argument for clerical celibacy is that it allows priests to remain close to Christ with an undivided heart and dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God. Celibacy is seen as a special gift or call that enables sacred ministers to better serve Christ and the Church. This discipline is willingly consented to by priests during ordination, and they make a vow without any fear, pressure, or coercion.
Additionally, some Catholic scholars argue that there is no clear evidence of a general tradition or obligation of priestly celibacy before the fourth century. The earliest textual evidence of the duty of married clerics to abstain from sexual contact is found in the decrees of the Synod of Elvira in the fourth century and the later Council of Carthage in 390.
While there have been calls for change, the discipline of clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church remains, with exceptions made in specific cases. Some married Catholic priests, like Fr. Joshua Whitfield, recognize the benefits of their marital status but still advocate for maintaining the tradition of clerical celibacy within the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic priests are not allowed to marry after ordination. However, there are some exceptions, such as in the case of married male Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant clergy who convert to Catholicism.
Yes, there are some married Catholic priests, particularly those who were formerly Episcopalian or Anglican and converted to Catholicism. There are around 120 married Catholic priests in the U.S.
Yes, the Eastern Catholic Churches, such as those in Ukraine and Brazil, have allowed the ordination of married men as priests for centuries.
Yes, some married Catholic priests are advocates of celibacy, believing that it allows priests to focus on serving Christ and the Church. They argue that the discipline of celibacy brings a unique "spiritual fruit" that is essential to the work of the Church.
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